Editorial: Hey candidates -- just the facts please

Wednesday night's presidential debate was big on spin and short on facts as President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney verbally sparred.

Romney, by all accounts, appears to have been the winner of the debate. He seemed at ease, confident and articulate, while a normally eloquent Obama seemed tongue-tied at times.

As conservative commentator David Frum tweeted during the debate, "Romney arrived with a plan for this debate. Obama didn't." That was an apt description as Romney more than held his own on the University of Denver stage Wednesday. He went on the attack and appealed to the more moderate voter more than he has on the campaign trail.

However, both sides stretched the truth. The Associated Press fact check shows how the candidates tried to massage the facts to their purpose.

That's the main reason we run AP and Gannett fact checks. We believe it's important to augment what is said on the campaign trail with a reality check. Are the promises and criticisms valid? Are they true?

Take the Bush tax cuts, for example. They were set to expire at the end of 2010 but were extended until the end of this year. Are you raising taxes if you let the program lapse? Are you cutting taxes if you keep them? You can spin your and your opponent's view on this to suit your purposes. However, we believe the public would be better served if both candidates - all candidates, in fact - simply stated what they were for or against, rather than couch everything in hyperbole, half truths and plain lies.

Both candidates - all candidates, in fact - would do well to muzzle the spin and stick to the facts, and let the people decide. Simply state what programs you're for, which ones you're against, why, and let the voter decide.

However, this is the election season and with national and state posts at stake, including the presidency, we don't expect anyone to heed that call. Until then, we'll try to help out separating fact from fiction with periodic fact checks.

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Editorial: Hey candidates -- just the facts please

Wednesday night's presidential debate was big on spin and short on facts as President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney verbally sparred. Romney, by all accounts, appears to have

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